Pakistan Conducts Airstrikes Inside Afghanistan; Taliban Alleges Civilian Deaths, Vows Response

Last Updated:March 13, 2026, 09:45 IST

According to Taliban sources, one of the strikes hit a residential building in the 21st police district of Kabul. The attack allegedly killed seven Afghan civilians.

Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have escalated sharply after Pakistan carried out a series of airstrikes across multiple Afghan locations overnight, targeting what it claimed were militant positions. According to Pakistani intelligence sources, the strikes were aimed at high-value targets linked to the Afghan Taliban and the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). However, the Afghan Taliban has accused Islamabad of killing civilians and warned that the attacks “will not go unanswered."

According to local reports and intelligence sources, Pakistan Air Force (PAF) fighter jets carried out coordinated strikes on several locations including Kandahar airport, military positions in Paktia province, and sites in the Afghan capital Kabul. One of the reported targets was the headquarters of the Taliban’s Al-Badr Corps in Kandahar city, where senior commanders were believed to be present at the time of the attack.

Sources familiar with the operation claim the airstrikes also targeted a brigade headquarters associated with the Taliban’s 205 Corps as well as military installations in different parts of southern Afghanistan. A strike was also reported in the Pul-e-Charkhi area of Kabul, while another targeted a military position in the Chamkani district of Paktia province. Pakistani intelligence officials said the operation was designed to eliminate high-value militant leaders believed to be coordinating activities against Pakistan from Afghan territory.

Unconfirmed reports suggest that several key Taliban fighters and TTP commanders may have been killed in the strikes. Among those reportedly affected are senior figures including Corps Commander Mehrullah Hamad, Hezbollah Afghan Chief of Staff Wali Jan Hamza, and other high-ranking members. Local sources claim that between five and seven senior figures were injured during the strikes and later transferred to a hospital in Kandahar for treatment.

Despite these reports, the Afghan Taliban has not officially confirmed casualties among its commanders. Authorities in Kabul have said they are still assessing the damage and gathering information before issuing a detailed official statement.

While Pakistan says the strikes targeted militant infrastructure, the Taliban has strongly disputed that claim. In a statement posted on social media, Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid confirmed that Pakistani aircraft had conducted airstrikes in several areas including Kabul, Kandahar, Paktia and Paktika provinces.

Mujahid accused Pakistan of targeting civilian homes during the operation. According to Taliban sources, one of the strikes hit a residential building in the 21st police district of Kabul. The attack allegedly killed seven Afghan civilians and injured at least 25 others in nearby houses.

Calling the attack a “crime," Mujahid said the Pakistani military had once again violated Afghan sovereignty by bombing multiple locations inside the country. He added that some of the strikes hit empty deserts and uninhabited areas, while others struck civilian neighbourhoods.

The Taliban spokesperson also criticised the timing of the operation, saying the attacks were carried out during the final ten days of the holy month of Ramadan and just days before Eid al-Fitr. According to Mujahid, the strikes demonstrate that Pakistan’s military leadership does not adhere to “human principles or moral values."

“The Islamic Emirate condemns this crime and this blatant aggression in the strongest terms," Mujahid said, warning that the deaths of Afghan civilians would not be ignored.

With both sides trading accusations and no official confirmation yet of the full extent of casualties, the incident risks further deepening tensions along the already volatile Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

News world Pakistan Conducts Airstrikes Inside Afghanistan; Taliban Alleges Civilian Deaths, Vows Response

Read More